Adjustable bed

Abstract

The invention concerns an adjustable bed (10) having zero wall clearance and zero gravity functionality. The bed comprises a frame (20) and an adjustable mattress support platform (11) having a plurality of articulated support sections (12, 16, 18) pivotally mounted with respect to one another for relative angular adjustment, and actuator means (52) for effecting coordinated movement of the support sections to reconfigure the bed, between a flat lowered configuration and a raised configuration for supporting an occupant in a zero gravity recumbent position. The actuator means comprises a single actuator, preferably a single linear actuator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wall proximity adjustable bed having zero wall clearance and zero gravity functionality, said bed comprising:
 a frame and an adjustable mattress support platform having a plurality of articulated support sections pivotally mounted with respect to one another for relative angular adjustment; 
 said frame having a first and a second lateral side; 
 an actuator effecting co-ordinated movement of said support sections to reconfigure the bed between a flat lowered configuration and a raised configuration thereby supporting an occupant in a zero gravity recumbent position; 
 said plurality of articulated mattress support sections include at least a head end section, a toe end section and an intermediate section disposed between the head and toe end sections; 
 a cam associated with one of the frame and the intermediate support section and a cam follower associated with the other of the frame and the intermediate movable support section; 
 said cam comprises a first and a second guide; 
 said first and second guides each further comprise a first and a second guide section; 
 said first and second guide sections each further comprise at least one curved guide section; 
 said first guide section further comprises said curved guide section; and 
 wherein said first curved guide section has a cam profile that is configured so that an initial movement of said intermediate section by said actuator in a rearwards direction has a greater downward vertical component of movement than in said second guide section. 
 
     
     
       2. A wall proximity adjustable bed, having zero wall clearance and zero gravity functionality, said bed comprising:
 a frame and an adjustable mattress support platform having a plurality of articulated support sections pivotally mounted with respect to one another for relative angular adjustment; 
 said frame having a first and a second lateral side; and 
 an actuator effecting co-ordinated movement of said support sections to reconfigure the bed between a flat lowered configuration and a raised configuration thereby supporting an occupant in a zero gravity recumbent position; 
 wherein said plurality of articulated mattress support sections include at least a head end section, and wherein the head end section includes one of a ramp or roller, and the frame includes the other of the ramp or roller, in which the head end section is supported by one of the ramp or roller when the head end section is raised by the extension of the actuator means. 
 
     
     
       3. A wall proximity adjustable bed, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the head end section includes the roller, and the frame includes the ramp, in which the head end section is supported by the ramp when the head end section is raised by the extension of the actuator means. 
 
     
     
       4. A wall proximity adjustable bed, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the ramp is a pair of ramp elements. 
 
     
     
       5. A wall proximity adjustable bed, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the ramp is provided at a rearward end of the frame. 
 
     
     
       6. A wall proximity adjustable bed, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the ramp comprises an inclined upper surface. 
 
     
     
       7. A wall proximity adjustable bed, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the rollers are mounted on respective downward depending brackets attached to the underside of the head end section. 
 
     
     
       8. A wall proximity adjustable bed, having zero wall clearance and zero gravity functionality, said bed comprising:
 a frame and an adjustable mattress support platform having a plurality of articulated support sections pivotally mounted with respect to one another for relative angular adjustment; 
 said frame having a first and a second lateral side; 
 an actuator effecting co-ordinated movement of said support sections to reconfigure the bed between a flat lowered configuration and a raised configuration thereby supporting an occupant in a zero gravity recumbent position; 
 said plurality of articulated mattress support sections include at least a head end section, a toe end section and an intermediate section disposed between the head and toe end sections; 
 at least one first cam associated with one of the frame and the intermediate support section and at least one first cam follower associated with the other of the frame and the intermediate support section; and 
 and at least one second cam associated with one of the frame and the foot support section and at least one second cam follower associated with the other of the frame and the foot support section; 
 wherein said first and second cams are configured so that the cam of the first and second cams closest to the head support section provides a greater downward vertical component of movement than in said other cam of the first and second cams.